Coronavirus: Fake news crackdown by UK government – English-BanglaNewsUs
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Coronavirus: Fake news crackdown by UK government

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Published March 30, 2020
Coronavirus: Fake news crackdown by UK government

The government is cracking down on misinformation about the coronavirus pandemic.

A rapid response unit within the Cabinet Office is working with social media firms to remove fake news and harmful content.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said action was needed “to stem the spread of falsehoods and rumours, which could cost lives”.

The specialist unit is dealing with as many as 10 incidents each day.

It will try to tackle a range of issues online, such as fake “experts” issuing false medical information and criminals running phishing scams.

Last Tuesday, for example, hours after the government started sending texts urging people to stay at home, several fake versions of the message began circulating on social media.

 

One of them told people they had been fined for breaking the rules.

Mr Dowden added: “We need people to follow expert medical advice and stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.

“It is vital that this message hits home and that misinformation and disinformation which undermines it is knocked down quickly.”

The government is also re-launching a campaign called “Don’t Feed the Beast”, urging the public to think carefully about what they share online.

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